Portable shelter for golfers

ABSTRACT

A shelter configured to positioned on a supporting surface for covering a golfer. The shelter includes several vertical support members and a a truss structure connecting the vertical support members. A canopy overlies the truss structure. The shelter is configured so that the distance from the supporting surface to a lowermost point on the truss structure is at least ten feet six inches.

BACKGROUND

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.60/443,812, filed Jan. 30, 2003.

The present invention relates to shelters and, more particularly, to ashelter that assembles easily, provides sufficient height and mobility,and collapses to a portable size.

Shelters are often used to provide protection and shelter fromenvironmental elements, including sun and rain. They are typically usedto provide temporary shelter for picnics, backyards, beach and sportingevents, recreational activities, camping, and trade shows.

A shelter often has multiple vertical support members and an overheadcanopy support frame. When assembled, a shelter is a free-standing,self-supporting structure that supports a canopy of fabric. The canopycan function as a barrier to environmental elements, such as sun andrain, and can also function as a surface for displaying information andgraphical material. Shelters can often be provided with accessories,such as mosquito netting, rain gutters, wheels, and weight bags.

Shelters often have to be transported to the location of use.Conventional shelters are typically cumbersome. To address this problem,some shelters are designed to be disassembled. Shelter assembly anddisassembly, however, can be time-consuming and may require tools orropes. When disassembled, conventional shelters can be bulky and/orheavy, are not easily transported, and can take up too much storagespace. Therefore, some shelters are designed to collapse to a portablesize. Conventional shelters that collapse, however, are limited inheight. This restricts the activities for which such shelters can beused. For example, such shelters are too short for golfers to usebecause they do not provide adequate height to swing a golf club.Although existing golf canopies provide sufficient height, they arelarge, heavy, and time-consuming to assemble and disassemble. Further,the size and weight of existing golf canopies prevents golfprofessionals from carrying a disassembled golf canopy to a golf lessonin the trunk of a car.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention and together with the description serve to explain principlesof the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portable shelter inthe upright configuration according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the portable shelter of FIG. 1 withoutthe canopy.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the portable shelter of FIG. 1 in thecollapsed configuration.

DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to a presently preferred embodimentof the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

FIGS. 1 through 3 show a preferred embodiment of a shelter 10 accordingto the present invention. In this embodiment, the present inventionprovides portability, ease of set up, and adequate height and mobilityfor such activities as golf.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the shelter 10 includes multiplevertical support members 20, a truss structure 30, a canopy 40, and basesupports 50. The base supports 50 can also be replaced with rollingmembers (not shown).

For conventional shelters, the clearance from the ground to the lowesttruss is typically about 7 feet. The shelter 10 of the present inventionincludes multiple vertical support members 20 that are adjustable inheight. The adjustability of the shelter enables the shelter 10 to varyin height, with the clearance from the ground to the lowest trusspreferably 10′6″. The 10′6″ clearance enables a golfer to swing a golfclub while standing underneath the shelter 10. This increased clearancethus permits the shelter 10 to be used for a variety of purposes,including a driving range canopy at a golf course. In other embodimentsof the shelter 10, the clearance from the ground to the lowest truss (orthe clearance from the ground to the lower edge of a canopy valence) maybe greater than or less than 10′6″ depending upon the application forwhich the shelter 10 is being used. For example, if the shelter 10 isbeing used to provide cover while washing and waxing large vehicles, theclearance will depend on the height of the vehicle being washed.According to various embodiments of the invention, the height of theshelter 10 may vary from 7 feet to 12 feet at approximately 1 inchincrements.

The vertical support members 20 and the truss structure 30 arepreferably constructed of lightweight material and can be powder-coated,for example, to provide rust protection. The length and width of theshelter 10 can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number ofvertical support members 20 and the size of the truss structure 30 andcanopy 40. For example, the shelter 10 may have the followingdimensions: 5′×5′, 8′×8′, 10′×10′, 10′×15′, 10′×20′, or 12′×12′.

Each vertical support member 20 includes a base support 50 at one end.The base supports 50 can also be replaced with rolling members (notshown), such as conventional wheels or stem casters. Replacing the basesupports 50 with rolling members provides mobility and permits theshelter 10 to be easily relocated from one position to another while inthe upright configuration. The rolling members can also reduce theamount of time required for handling and set up because the shelter 10can be repositioned without having to be collapsed and reassembled. Oneor more of the rolling members can also have a conventional lockingbrake mechanism for stationary use of the shelter 10.

The canopy 40 is preferably constructed of lightweight fabric. Thecanopy 40 can be treated to resist fire, rot, mildew, water, andultraviolet rays. The canopy 40 can also be made in various colors andpatterns and can also function as a display surface for information orgraphical material. Additionally, the shelter 10 can be configured toaccept additional accessories (not shown), for example, wind drapes,lights, heaters, and/or misters can be provided.

The truss structure 30 of the shelter 10 includes members that arehingedly connected to one another. This configuration enables a user toquickly and easily unfold the shelter 10 from a collapsed position to anupright position, which minimizes set up time and eliminates the needfor tools and fasteners. The shelter 10 can also be biased toward theupright configuration to further aid the unfolding of the shelter 10.Additionally, the configuration of the truss structure 30 enables thetruss structure 30 to collapse from the upright configuration shown inFIG. 1 to the collapsed configuration shown in FIG. 3 without beingdisassembled from the vertical support members 20. In the collapsedconfiguration, the length of the collapsed shelter 10 is preferably fourfeet. This makes the collapsed shelter 10 readily portable and providesfor ease of handling and storage. A cover 60 and/or carrying case (notshown) into which the collapsed shelter 10 can be inserted may also beprovided.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from consideration of the specification and practice of theinvention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification andexamples be considered as exemplary only.

1. A shelter configured to positioned on a supporting surface forcovering a golfer comprising: a plurality of vertical support members; atruss structure connecting the vertical support members; a canopyoverlying the truss structure; and wherein the shelter is configured sothat the distance from the supporting surface to a lowermost point onthe truss structure is at least ten feet six inches.